Anthony Powell First Editions

• Afternoon Men — 1931 · Gerald DuckworthFirst impression of Powell's first novel, published while he worked at Duckworth and personally oversaw its production; roughly 2,000 copies printed (Lilley A.1). Issued in publisher's cloth (seen in both pale green and lilac) with the spine lettered in gilt. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Misha Black from an idea supplied by Powell, showing a wooden lay-figure (a painter's jointed model) tipsily…. London: Duckworth, 1931 is the true first. The US edition (Henry Holt, New York) followed in 1932. No book-club edition.
• Venusberg — 1932 · Gerald DuckworthFirst printing, London: Duckworth, 1932, in the publisher's original grey cloth lettered in gilt at the spine, issued in the pictorial dustwrapper designed by Misha Black. Powell's second novel, published by Duckworth where he then worked; by the author's own recollection the edition ran to fewer than three thousand copies. London: Duckworth, 1932 is the true first. No US edition appeared until 1952, when Periscope-Holliday (New York) issued it together with Agents and Patients in a single volume titled Two Novels: Venusberg and Agents and Patients. No book-club edition.
• From a View to a Death — 1933 · Gerald DuckworthFirst edition, first impression, Gerald Duckworth & Co., London, October 1933. Powell's third novel, set around the Passenger family's country seat. Bound in olive cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, octavo, with two leaves of publisher's advertisements at the rear. The pictorial dust jacket was designed by Misha Black; a first-issue jacket should retain the printed price on the flap. London: Duckworth, 1933 is the true first. The US edition (Vanguard Press, New York, 1934) was retitled Mr. Zouch: Superman by publisher James Henle, after the character Zouch, and follows the UK printing by a year. US edition retitled Mr. Zouch: Superman (sometimes styled Mr Zouch, Superman).
• Agents and Patients — 1936 · Gerald DuckworthFirst printing, London: Gerald Duckworth, 1936, in publisher's red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, octavo. Powell's fourth novel and the last of his four pre-war Duckworth novels. The first-issue dust jacket is the pictorial jacket designed by Misha Black; a correct first is identified by the Duckworth 1936 imprint together with that jacket, which should retain its printed price. London: Duckworth, 1936 is the true first. The first US appearance was in 1952, when Periscope-Holliday (New York) published it together with Venusberg in a single volume titled Two Novels: Venusberg and Agents and Patients. No book-club edition.
• What's Become of Waring — 1939 · CassellFirst printing; Powell's fifth and last pre-war novel and the first not published by Duckworth, after Duckworth rejected it. Issued in russet/brick-red cloth with blue spine titling. Sold fewer than a thousand copies, with many lost early in the war, so scarce. London: Cassell, 1939 is the true first. No book-club edition.
• John Aubrey and His Friends — 1948 · Eyre & SpottiswoodeFirst printing, 1948; Powell's biography of the seventeenth-century antiquary John Aubrey, running to 335 pages with an index, bibliography and appendices on Aubrey's works and library. Illustrated in black-and-white with a frontispiece and plates, a full-page reproduction of Aubrey's bookplate, and two folding Aubrey family pedigrees. Bound in publisher's cloth with a dust jacket lettered in dark brown; the…. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1948 is the true first. The US edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1948) was printed from the English sheets and follows. A revised edition was issued later (1963); the 1948 Eyre & Spottiswoode printing is the first.
• A Question of Upbringing — 1951 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1951 hardcover, first impression, with no statement of a later printing. Volume one of the twelve-novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time and the most sought-after volume as the cycle's opener. The dust jacket was designed by James Broom-Lynne and with its printed price. UK Heinemann 1951 is the true first; the first American edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York) appeared the same year, 1951. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
• A Buyer's Market — 1952 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1952 hardcover, first impression, volume two of A Dance to the Music of Time. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering against a black backing panel, with no statement of a later printing. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Broome Lynne; the priced first-state wrapper is distinguished from the later second state by its longer front flap (the second state…. UK Heinemann 1952 is the true first. The first American edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1953) was printed from the British sheets and is thus a later issue of the same setting; the Scribner jacket carries a rubber-stamped price on the front flap. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
• The Acceptance World — 1955 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1955 hardcover, first impression, with no statement of a later printing on the reverse of the title page. Volume three of A Dance to the Music of Time, the sequence begun with A Question of Upbringing (1951) and A Buyer's Market (1952). Bound in Heinemann's red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, 8vo, 214 pages. The first-issue dust jacket carries the pictorial design by…. UK Heinemann 1955 is the true first; the first American edition was published the same year, 1955, by Farrar, Straus and Cudahy in New York (the firm's name at that date was Farrar, Straus and Cudahy), and it follows the British printing. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement and that the jacket bears the Broom-Lynne art with its printed price.
• At Lady Molly's — 1957 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1957 hardcover, first impression, in red cloth with gilt spine lettering, with no statement of a later printing. Volume four of A Dance to the Music of Time; the novel won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. UK Heinemann 1957 is the true first; the first American edition (Little, Brown, Boston) followed, dated 1958 on stated-first copies. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
• Casanova's Chinese Restaurant — 1960 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1960 hardcover, first impression, in deep red cloth with the spine blocked in black and lettered in gilt, jacket by Broom-Lynne, with no statement of a later printing. Volume five of A Dance to the Music of Time. UK Heinemann 1960 is the true first; the first American edition (Little, Brown) also appeared in 1960. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
• The Kindly Ones — 1962 · HeinemannTrue first is the London Heinemann 1962 hardcover, first impression, with no statement of a later printing. Red boards with a black spine label lettered in gilt, in the illustrated dust jacket designed by James Broom-Lynne, the printed price present on the flap. Volume six of A Dance to the Music of Time. UK Heinemann 1962 is the true first; the first American edition (Little, Brown, Boston) also appeared in 1962 but followed the Heinemann. Later impressions and book-club issues followed; a Little, Brown second printing exists, so verify first-printing status on the American edition. The Heinemann first is identified by the red boards, gilt-lettered black spine label, and the James Broom-Lynne jacket.
• The Valley of Bones — 1964 · HeinemannFirst printing (Heinemann, London, 1964) of the seventh volume of A Dance to the Music of Time, the first book of the war trilogy. Issued in publisher's red cloth with gilt titling to a black square (label) on the spine, in a dust jacket designed by Broom-Lynne that should retain its printed price (issued at the printed price). The Heinemann London edition of 1964 is the true first. The US edition was published by Little, Brown the same year, 1964, and follows the UK first. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition.
• The Soldier's Art — 1966 · HeinemannFirst printing (Heinemann, London, 1966) of the eighth volume of A Dance to the Music of Time, the second book of the war trilogy. Issued in publisher's red cloth with gilt lettering to a black label on the spine, in a dust jacket designed by Broom-Lynne that should retain its printed price (jackets are found both priced and later price-clipped). The Heinemann London edition of 1966 is the true first. The US edition was published by Little, Brown in 1966 and follows the UK first. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition.
• The Military Philosophers — 1968 · HeinemannFirst printing, Heinemann, London, 1968, the ninth volume of A Dance to the Music of Time and the third book of the war trilogy. Issued in publisher's red cloth in a dust jacket designed by James Broom-Lynne, the jacket printed in black, yellow and red and retaining its printed price. The Heinemann London edition of 1968 is the true first. The US edition was published by Little, Brown in 1968, not 1969; Little, Brown first American edition copies are catalogued at 1968 by multiple dealers. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition.
• Books Do Furnish a Room — 1971 · HeinemannFirst printing of the tenth volume of A Dance to the Music of Time, opening the final trilogy of the sequence. Issued in publisher's red cloth, the spine lettered in gilt on a black ground. The dust jacket is by James Broom-Lynne; the first-issue jacket should retain its printed net price on the front flap and is not price-clipped in first state. Broom-Lynne jackets on this title are commonly found lightly tanned…. The Heinemann London edition of 1971 is the true first. The US edition was published by Little, Brown (Boston) in 1971, stated 'First American edition,' and follows the UK first. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition.
• Temporary Kings — 1973 · HeinemannFirst printing of the eleventh (penultimate) volume of A Dance to the Music of Time, octavo, [8] plus 272 pages. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering against a black panel, and issued in the pictorial dust jacket designed by Broom-Lynne. This volume won the W. H. Smith Literary Award, and copies were originally issued with a wraparound promotional band noting the award; the printed jacket…. The Heinemann London edition of 1973 is the true first, first impression. The US edition was published by Little, Brown in 1973 and follows the UK first. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition.
• Hearing Secret Harmonies — 1975 · HeinemannFirst printing, first impression, of the twelfth and final volume of A Dance to the Music of Time. Published by Heinemann, London, 1975, octavo, collating 272 pages. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt titling set against a black panel to the spine. Issued in a pictorial dust jacket designed by Broom-Lynne, which on a first-state example retains its printed price to the flap. The Heinemann London edition of 1975 is the true first. The US edition, published by Little, Brown in 1976, follows the UK first and is a separate setting. Later book-club and reprint-society printings followed the trade first and are not the first edition; look for the Heinemann imprint, the red cloth binding, and the Broom-Lynne jacket rather than a book-club board or blind-stamp.
• To Keep the Ball Rolling: The Memoirs of Anthony Powell (Infants of the Spring) — 1976 · HeinemannFirst printing published by Heinemann, London, 1976; volume one of Powell's four-volume memoirs, subtitled Infants of the Spring (the remaining volumes are Messengers of Day, Faces in My Time and The Strangers All Are Gone, 1978-1982). Issued in cloth with photographic plates, 209 pages, ISBN 0-434-59922-6. The dust jacket carries the printed original price on the flap, which should be present on an unclipped…. UK Heinemann is the true first (London, 1976); the US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition (titled Infants of the Spring) followed in 1977. No book-club issue; the first is identified by the Heinemann imprint and 1976 date with no later-impression statement.
• O, How the Wheel Becomes It! — 1983 · HeinemannFirst printing; short novel, Powell's first fiction after concluding A Dance to the Music of Time. Bound in the publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial dust jacket after a drawing by Barbara Ker-Seymer; 144 pages, octavo (roughly 22 cm). UK Heinemann is the true first (London, 1983); the US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition followed in 1983. No book-club issue.
• The Fisher King — 1986 · HeinemannFirst edition, first impression; Powell's last novel. Dark blue cloth boards with silver titling to the spine, in a predominantly blue glossy pictorial dust jacket with the printed price present and unclipped on the flap; collation of 255 pages. A first impression states no later printing. UK William Heinemann (London, 1986) is the true first; the US W. W. Norton edition also appeared in 1986 but followed the Heinemann. No book-club issue.

More Literary Fiction (US) & Award Winners shelves: Anthony Trollope, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur Conan Doyle, A.S. Byatt, Ayn Rand.

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